Improvement in game-boards



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

EMIL WORCH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT O F COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAME-BOARDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,174, dated December11, 1877.; application led November 16, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL Wonen, of Washington, in the District ofColumbia, have invented a new and Improved Combination Checker-Board andSpinning Index; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull,clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of referencemarked thereon, which I form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of my improved game apparatus;Fig. 2, a similar view of the under side; Fig. 3, a central verticalsection, andFig. 4 a side view of the detachable arrow or pointer.

My invention, which I propose to designate as a combinationchecker-boardI and spinning index,7 relates to that class of gameapparatus in which a checker-board and index are adapted to be usedeither for the purpose of playing checkers or gaines requiring numbersindicated at hazard by the pointer; and it consists in a checker-boardhaving a circular line of figures upon its playing-surface,

' and a revolving arrow or pointer adj-usted thereon, so that it may beused in connection with the numbers, or removed from the board when itis desired to play checkers, the playing-surface being left with noprojection or obstruction to the movement of the pieces in the game, allas hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

'Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A represents the'board, formed with legs or flanges at its four corners, of sufflcientwidth to raise the same from the table upon which it is to be placedwhen in use to a height which will enablev the step upon the under sidethereof to clear the table. The upper surface of this board is providedwith the usual squares of a checker-board, as shown in Fig. l.

I propose, generally, to cast or stamp the board out of thin sheetmetal, in which case the corner-anges may be formed by the sameoperation, and either paint, japan, or otherwise affix the squaresthereon; or, where a cheaper board is desired, the squares maybe printedupon cloth or paper, and then suitably secured upon the board. The boardmight also be made of papier-mache or wood, and either painted orprovided with the abovementioned surface of printed clothor paper.

Upon this checker-board, thus formed, I also form a line of figures, B,which run between two concentric circles, as indicated.

C represents a revolving arrow or pointer, v

provided with a shank, which, above the arrow, is considerably enlarged,so as to constitute a suitable means for taking hold of the same withthe fingers for the purpose of rotating or spinning it upon the board.The lower portion of this shank is hollow, and oonstitiites'a sleeve orspindle, d, adapted to be set-upon a pin, e, which projects through anopening centrally located in theboard nearly to its upper surface. Thispin is screwed or fastened within a step, g, projecting below the undersurface of the board, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. By thisconstruction the arrow may be spun around upon the pin, so as toindicate some one of the numbers or figures upon the board, or it may belifted out of its seat, and the board utilized for l checkers or chess,with no other alteration or adaptation whatever. Its surface will besmooth, and no obstacle oEered to the free sliding of the checkersthereon.

By this means a simple and effective game apparatusisaiforded, whichwill be both cheap and desirable.

Upon the under side of the board I may I paint the usual points incidentto a backgammon-board, and thereby also utilize this space. This isillustrated in the bottom view, Fig. 2.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A combination game-board, composed of the board A, with the squares of acheckerboard and a circular row of figures upon its upper surface, andprovided w ith a removable arrow or pointer, C, having its sleeve orspindle adapted to rotate within a seat or bearing, so that the pointer,when turned, shall revolve over the playing-surface of the board withreference to the numerals thereon, all sub` stantially as described andshown, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name before the twosubscribing Wit-'- nesses.

EMIL WORCH.

Witnesses:

CEAS. G. PAGE, E. E. MAssoN.

